Typewriting machine



Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,741

i A. G. F. KUROWSK! TYPEWRIT ING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1922 I 3 #37 /J/ I a hwnfar:

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Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITE-R COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed .nu 27,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. F. Krmoi SKI, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to tools or devices for locking certain parts of a typewriting machine while a type-block is being set and soldered upon a type-bar. More particularly, the invention is for use in connection with a typewriting machine of the rotary-platen class, in which the type-bars, each carrying a type-block having a plurality of characters thereon, are pivoted on a segment, to be swung to the platen, and in which the platen is on a frame shiftable up and down between case-positions.

It is important that the type-blocks be originally so positioned on the type-bars as to print in proper alignment, and it is like wise equally important that, when a type gets out of alignment, or is to bereplaced, because injured or because a different character is desired, the repositioning or replacement may be effected expeditiously by the workman, with accuracy, and with a minimum of trouble. In the placing or replacing' of a type-block upon a type-bar, an anvil, or type-block-support, and adjusting means therefor, have heretofore been mounted on the platen shaftg and the type-bar has been swung to the type-block on such anvil or support, and soldered to the type-block after the latter has been brought to true position by adjustments of the anvil. In this operation, no shifting of the platen-frame, and consequent displacement of thepanvil, should take place.

.An object of the present invention is the provision of a tool or device, insertable into the machine, to lock the platen-frame in a fixed case-position, preferably lower-caseposition; which tool or device may be of cheap and simple construction, expeditiously and conveniently, and without adjustments of any sort, be placed, removed and locked in position. In the preferred form of the invention, this tool consists of a rela- 1922. Serial No. 577,799.

tively stiff strip of spring-metal, shaped to engage and lock together the main frame and the platen-frame of the machine.

In machines of the character mentioned, the type-bars, upon depression of the typekeys, are swung to the platen, around pivots on a type-segment, and are returned to a type-rest by means of springs. When, therefore, in the placement or replacement of a type-block, a type-bar is swung to the anvil on the platen-shaft, it should be fixedly held there, against the action of its return-spring until the solder has hardened, if risk of displacement of the block on the type-bar is to be avoided.

An object of the invention is the pro vision of means for holding the type-bar to the type-block on the anvil, preferably with a spring-pressure, in such manner as to preclude all possibility of disturbance of the type-block on the bar after the block is in true position. A feature of the invention is a tool forthis purpose, which, like the tool for locking the platen-frame in caseposition, may be cheap and simple, and be placed, removed and held in position without adjustments, with a minimum of trouble, and which may consist simply of a relatively stiff strip of spring-metal.

Other features and advantages will here-- inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a view, in side elevation, partlv crosssectional, of a typewriting machine, showing the parts of the present invention in place therein, and-also showing the typeanvil and adjusting devices therefor in place on the platen-shaft for the soldering operation.

Figure 2 is a front view, partly crosssectional, of one end of the machine, showing the tool in place, by means of which the platen-frame is locked against shifting dur ing the type setting and soldering operations.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tool which holds the type-bar for the setting and soldering operations.

The machine, to which the invention is applied, is a front-strike machine. cou'iprising a main frame 10 and a frame ll, shiftable ii ll carriage forms a rail riding on ball-bearings I to permit placehient'of thetodl.

20, supported on a rail 21, secured by screws .22 to brackets 23, attached by screws 24 to the shifthame 11. Side plates 25 oftho shift-franie are pivotally connected at 9 6 to links 27, one at each side of the machine,

which links 27 are plvotally -'connecre-d at 28 to the main frame at the rear of the machine. For further supporting and guiding the shift-frame on the main frame, arms 2 fast to a r'oclcshaft 30, .journaled at "each end in the side of themain frame, have, attheii' forward ends, pins 31, which are received in recesses "or bifurcations 32 in the lower edges of the side plates of the shift-frame. *St'o'ps, in the form of screws 33, adjustably set by means of lock-nuts 34 on brackets 35, one at each side of the machine, determine the normal or lower-case position of the "shift-frame, upon contact of the screws ts' 'ith flanges 33 one on the lower edge of each of the side plates '25 of the shift-frame. Thebra'ckets 35 are secured to a cross-piece 36, which connects the side plates of the main fra'me. For determiningthe apper-cas'eosition of the shiftframe,tliereare stop-arm 37,;s'ecured to the cross-piece 36, one at each si'de of the machine, which arms have lateral offsets at their upper ends to carry sftop serews 3'8 adjustably set infthe arms 37 by means of lock-nuts 39. When the shift-frame is thrown up. the flanges 33 thereon are engaged by the stop-screws 38, and the shift frame is thus arrested in 'upp'er case po'sition. The parts thus far described are not 'jnew with the present invention.

One feature of thepresent invention is a tool for locking the shift-frame 11 against shifting movement "on the main frame 10 pr'elii'ninary 'to 'andduringthe operations of setting and soldering the type. As shown in Figure 2,'tl1isto'ol consists'of a'rel'atively stilt steel spring, "folded upon itself at '40 and 41, andfhaving'the end s'43 and 44 thereof "turned toward each other, so that, when the ends '43 and 44 are inserted between the side plate 45 of the main frame and the corresponding side plate '46 of 'the shiftfihin'e, the legs '47 and 48 of the tool will be compressed toward one another, Whenjthe tool is'i'n position, as shown in Figure2,'the spring g action thereof causes the legs 47 and 48 to lie flatly against and press upon the frame-members 45 and 46, respectively. The side piece 45 of the main frame has, at its upper edge, a laterally-inturned head 49. under which, in positioning the tool, a shoulder 50, formed by a turn in the tool, snaps, and which thus holds the tool down in place against accidental upward displacement. The curvature of the turn 50 in the tool, however, causes the legs 47 and 48 thereof to be cannned together, to permit withdrawal of the tool when the same is ulled up by means of the loop 40, which forms a handle therefor. In the formation of the loop 41 in the tool, the same has a bend 51 therein, which, when the tool is in place, overlies the upper edge the corresponding side piece 25 of the shift-frame. Since the tool is held down by the bead 49 of the main frame, theben-d 51 ofthe tool holds the shift-frame down in lower-caseposition, against the stops 33, shown in Figure 2. The platen axle'to which the anvil-supports are attached, in the operations of setting and soldering the type, is thus assured of a constant position as to its elevation during such setting andsoldering operations. A 3

An anvil and adjusting devices, in connec'tion with which the invention maybe e1nployed, are shown in Figure 1. In the use of such an anvil -and adjusting devices, the platen is temporarily removed from its axle to allow for the mounting ofthe anvil, and also preferably to allow for 'the'pos'itioning of a short, dummy or temporary platen for testing ithe alignment and setting of the type. The dummypla'ten and anvil-supports are carried by a metal tubing '52, having heads or bushings, through which the platen-axle 1-3 passes, and which aresecured to the platen-aide by set-screws or other means (not shown). Preferably, the

dummy-platen or tube 52 carries a toothed wheel '(not'shown), engageable by aspringde'te'nt (not shown), for holdingthe agile 13 against rotary movement during "the adjust" ing and testing operations. The dunnnyplaten being short, the anvil may bemounted in a central position upon the'ltiibe '52, 3

ll) U but, in any event, by proper movement of the carriage, the anvil may be brought to printing position.

A'sshown in Figure 1, the anvil-supports comprise a bracket 53, journaled for angular adjustment on the tube '52, and carrying a set' scr'e'w 54, for locking the same to the tube 52 in any desired angular position thereon. The bracket 53 comprises two pairs ofea rs 5 5; adjusta'bly set between the ears through all of the'ears 55 on the'brac ke't 53,

and which at its end is in threaded engagement with one of the. ears 55. The ears are slightly flexible, so that, when the bolt 58 is tightened, the ears 56 on the bracket 57 are clamped and the bracket 57 thus held against movement. When the bolt 58 is loosened, the bracket 57 may be moved forward and backward, or swung angularly, with respect to the bracket 53.

The bracket 57 comprises a flat plate 59, against which a flat plate 60, forming the platform of the anvil, is set. The anvil 60 has an ear 61 offset rearward from the upper end thereof through a vertical slot 62 in the plate 59 of the bracket 57. The bracket 57 also has an ear 63 offset rearward from the upper edge thereof; and on which the anvil is adjustably supported by means of a thumb-screw 64. The screw 64 is threaded through the ear 63 of the bracket 57, and below the ear 63 is grooved at 65, to fit within a bifurcation in the ear 61 of the anvil. By turning the knurled head 66 of the screw 64;, the anvil is adjusted upward and downward on the bracket 57. For holding the anvil flat against the plate 59 of the bracket 57, the latter has secured thereto, by screws 67, a pair of metal strips which overlie the side edges of the anvil, and thus serve as ways, in which the anvil may be adjusted. The anvil, at the lower edge thereof, has a forwardly-projecting lip or offset 68 to form a ledge for aligning and determining the position of the base of the type to be soldered to the type-bar.

In operation, the proper position and all adjustments of the anvil are first determined by means of a type and type-bar other than the one on which the setting and soldering operations are to be performed. After the anvil and brackets therefor, just described, have been set upon the tube 52 at the printing position, any type-bar may be swung, by depression of its type-key, to the anvil. iVhile the bolt 58 is loose, the bracket 57 may be turned angularly until the type-piece rests flat on the anvil-platform; and may be adjusted forward and backward to the proper setting for printing. Thereupon the bolt 58 is tightened. The screw 64; is then turned to move the anvil up until the ledge 68 thereof is in engagement with the base of the type. The correct position of the anvil being thus determined, the type used in ascertaining such position is released, and the type-bar, on which a type is to be set and soldered, is then thrown to the anvil. The typebars, at their ends, are set in a well-known manner in slots or grooves in the rear faces of the type-pieces. The typepiece is set with its face flat against the platform of the anvil, and with its base flat on the anvil-ledge 68. The bar is then inserted and soldered in the groove in the type. It is in connection with this setting and soldering operation that another feature of the invention is concerned.

This other feature of the invention is the means for holding the type-bar forward, against the mechanism which normally returns the same to its rest. The type-bars 69 are pivotally mounted in a well-known manner upon a rod 69 carried by a type-segment 70. Draw-rods (not shown), connect to ears 71 on the type-bars, and to the typekey-levers (not shown), so that, when the type-key is depressed, the bar swings up to Figure 1 position.

Springs (not shown) return the typebars to normal position unless the same are held. It is desirable here, however, that there be no such return movement of the type-bar until after the solder has set; but,

on the contrary, that the type-bar be firmly held with the type 69 flat against the anvilplatform during the setting of the solder, and, further, in order that the workman may properly position the type thereon and apply the solder withoutthe necessity of at the same time holding the type-bar.

A tool for this latter purpose is shown in perspective in Figure 3, and is shown in operative position in Figure 1. It consists of a relatively stiff spring, having three legs 7 2, 73 and 74:. The legs 72 and 73 serve to hold the tool in place, and the leg 74 serves to hold the type-bar. The legs 72 and 73 are ofiiset from one another by a bend 75 in the spring, so that the spring may be compressed to permit the foot or heel 76 of the leg 7 2 to be set under and against a bead 77 on the upper edge of the front plate 78 of the main frame, and so that the heel or foot 79 of the leg 73 may be set under and against the segment 70. If the type-bar has been swung forward previous to the insertion of the tool, then, when the latter is positioned as just described, a finger 80, offset laterally from the end of the leg 7 4 of the tool, will bear with a spring-pressure upon the rear edge of the type-bar, holding the same firmly in position, with the type flat against the anvil-platform. The tool may be removed by simply catching the same under the bend 75 of the finger and pulling the same up and out of the machine.

Certain features herein disclosed are the invention of Joseph Lindburg and are claimed in his application, Serial No. 501,021, filed September 16, 1921; the claims in this case being limited to features not disclosed in said Lindburg application.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device, insertable into a typewriting machine, having means thereon for interengaging the main frame of the machine, and

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means thereon for engaging over the platen shift-frame of the machine, to hold the lat ter frame against raising movement.

2. A. device, insertable into ,a ,typewniting machine, consisting of spring having means thereon for positively engaging within the main frame of the machine, and means thereon for engaging over the platen.- shift-frame of .the machine, to hold said frames against relative vertical movement.

3; A device, inse-rtafblc into a typewrit-ing machine, consisting .of ,a spring having two legs, bent to produce a bowed handles-1e ment and being compressible toward each other, for entry :between the anain frame and the platemshift-frame .of the machine, one leg ibeing adapted :to positively engage within the main frame, and the other leg being adapted to engage .over the platen-shift frame, .to hold {the latter against vertical movement when the device is in place.

4. A device, insertable into a .typewriting machine, consisting of a spring having two legs, compressible toward each other, for entry between the main frame and the platen-shift-frame of the machine, .one leg being adapted to engage the main frame, and the :other leg being adapted to engage the '-p.late11shiftfname, to hold the latter against movement when the device is in place, the ends of the legs being turned toward each other for guiding the spring to position. i

.5..- A .device, insertable into a typewr-iting machine, consisting .of a spring folded upon itself :to present .two legs, each having inreaclring terminals, one of which legs is shaped to engage the main frame of @the machine, and the other of which legs is offset to overlie a part of the platen-shift-fname, whereby, when the device is in position, the platen-shift-frame is held against upward movement.

.6. In a ,typewr'iting machine, a main frame, a shift-frame within and somewhat spaced ,from the main frame, a .device insertable into the machine between the .two fr nes for engagement with both of the frames, to hold the shift-frame against movement with respect to the main frame, and a work-part receiver carried on said shift-frame toco-operate with said device.

In a type-writing machine, 1a. main :9, in a typcw g 'lflflflfill line, a inz'l in frame having a side plate with a head or offset thereon, -,a shiftsframe within the main frame and somewhat spaced therefrom, .and a device consisting of a spring having two legs, compressible toward one another, .or insertion into the machine between the frames, .one leg of {the spring ibeing engageaible with the offset on the main frame, and the other leg of the spring being turned olvera part of {the shift-frame, when t-hedcvice is in place, whereby the device is held down by the main f1EiID,fi-Ild, in turn, holds the shift-frame down against upward displacement, a loop being formed in the spring where the legs are joined, to serve as a handle by means of which the device may he posit-ioned and removed.

10,. In a typew-riting machine, gtypewbars pivoted to swing to printing position, a triple armed spring device insertable into the machine :to engage the frame thereof, ac engage and hold in printing position any type-ibar which may have been moved stovguch position, and :means :removab'ly engaged in the machine receptive of the type carried by said 'type bazrs.

11. In a typewniting machine, type-bars pivoted to swing to printing position, an an gala-r, compressible spring-device insertable into the anachine to engage the frame thencof, and to engage and [hold will pr position any type-bar which may have been moved to such position, and an adjustabl anvil removab'ly monnter l in the mach ineo-n which the face of the type carried Zhy said type-b ans nine -rece,i\' ed.

12. In a typcwriti ng machine, type-hairs pivoted to swing to ,printing position, a device consisting of a sprin having two legs,

one adapted to engage the frame vOfthe ma.- chine, and the other to engage and hold in printing position any type-bar which may have been moved to such position, and an anvil adjustable in the machine :to receive type canried by said type-liars when engaged by said device.

13. In atypew riting machine, a type-barsegment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung to printing position, a device inscrtable into the machine, with one part thereof in engagement with. the frame of the machine, with another part thereof in engagement with the segment, and with another part thereof adapted to engage and hold in printing position any type-bar which may have been swung to such position, and means engageable in the machine receptive of type carried-by said type-bars when in printing position.

14:. In a typewriting machine, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung to printing position, a device consisting of a spring having three legs offset from one another, one leg for engagement with the frame of the machine, another leg for engagement with the segment, and another leg engageable with and adapted to hold in printing position any type-bar which may have been swung to such position, and co-operative means engageable in the machine for adjusting the type carried by said type-bars when in printing position.

15. In a typewriting machine, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung to printing position, a device consisting of a spring having three legs offset from one another, one leg for engagement with the frame of the machine, another leg for engagement with the segment, and another leg engageable with and adapted to hold in printing position any type-bar which may have been swung to such position, the device being compressible for placement and removal, and an anvil receptive of type carried by said type-bars when swung into printing position.

16. In a typewriting machine, a platenaXle, an anvil placeable on the axle and adjustable thereon for positioning type-blocks to be set and soldered upon type-bars, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung upward and rearward to the anvil, and a device consisting of a spring bent up at an intermediate point thereof to form two legs, one of which legs is positionable against the front of the machine-frame, and the other of which is positionable under and against the segment; the latter leg having a third leg offset upward and rearward therefrom to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung to the anvil.

17. In a typewriting machine, a platenaxle, an anvil placeable on the axle and adjustable thereon for positioning type-blocks to be set and soldered upon type-bars, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung upward and rearward to the anvil, and a device consisting of a spring bent up at an intermediate point thereof to form two legs, one of which legs is positionable against the front of the machine-frame, and the other of which is positionable under and against the segment; the latter leg having a third leg ofl'set upward and rearward therefrom to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung to the anvil; the first mentioned upward bend in the device serving as a handle for placement and removal thereof.

18. In a typewriting machine, a platenaxle, an anvil placeable on the axle and adjustable thereon for positioning type-blocks to be set and soldered upon type-bars, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung upward and rearward to the anvil, and a device consisting of a spring bent up at an intermediate point thereof to form two legs, one of which legs is positionable against the front of the machine-frame, and the other of which is positionable under and against the segment; the latter leg having a third leg offset upward and rearward therefrom to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung to the anvil; the first-mentioned upward bend in the device serving as a handle for placement and removal thereof, and permitting compression of the device for the placement and removal thereof.

19. In a typewriting machine having a rearwardly-directed bead or offset on the front plate thereof, a platen-axle, an anvil placeable on the axle and adjustable thereon for positioning type-blocks to be set and soldered upon type-bars, a type-segment, type-bars pivotally mounted on the segment to be swung upward and rearward to the anvil, and a device consisting of a spring bent up at an intermediate point thereof to form two legs, one of which legs is positionable against the front of the machineframe, under the bead or offset thereon, and the other of which is positionable under and against the segment; the latter leg having a third leg offset upward and rearward therefrom to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung to the anvil.

20. A spring device, insertable into a typewriting machine, having integral means for engaging the frame of the machine, and other integral means for coincidentally engaging and holding any type-bar which may have been swung to printing position.

21. A device, insertable into a typewriting machine, consisting of a spring bent to have two legs, one leg being adapted to engage the frame of the machine, and the other leg to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung to printing position, said legs acting co-operatively and being of integral construction.

22. A device, insertable into a typewriting machine, consisting of a spring having three legs, one leg being engageable with the frame of the machine, another leg being engageable with the type-segment, and

a third being adapted to engage and hold any type-bar which may have been swung 10 any type-bar which may have been swung to printing position, said device being corn to printing position. pressible for placement and removal, and 23. A device, insertable into a typewrit being adapted to exert a spring-pressure ing' machine, consisting of a spring having upon any type-bar held thereby.

three legs, one leg being engegeable with ALFRED G. F. KUBOKVSKI. the frame of the machine, another leg belVitnesseS: ing engageable with the type-segment, and CATHERINE A. NEWELL,

the third being adapted to engage and hold JENNIE P. THORNE. 

